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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you prioritize a lower price and don't mind a slightly bulkier device with generally adequate performance for everyday tasks, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 could suit your needs. On the other hand, the Dell XPS 13 typically costs more, yet offers a more compact and premium design, better performance, and longer battery life, making it more suitable for professionals and power users who require a high-performance machine that is also highly portable for tasks like presentations, meetings, or travel. Keep in mind that a higher resolution and quality display often accompanies the XPS, which could be vital for tasks involving visual detail like photo editing or multimedia consumption. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13.
Advantages of the Dell XPS 13
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.0
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, with its fair screen, offers adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks but its panel type and color range may fall short for intricate engineering designs. The Dell XPS 13, however, boasts a superior display that presents vibrant colors and sharp details which are beneficial for both general use and professional design work, though its refresh rate is not optimized for the high demands of gaming or 3D rendering. Gamers and 3D artists would find both laptops lacking due to the screens' lower refresh rates, affecting the smoothness of fast-moving visuals.
Battery
6.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.4in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
8.5
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$560
$850
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $560 and the Dell XPS 13 costs $850.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, with a larger screen and keyboard including a number pad, is tailored for comfort in general use, supported by substantial RAM and storage, though it trades off some portability due to its size and has moderate battery life. In contrast, the Dell XPS 13 offers high portability with its compact size and superior battery life, alongside a high-quality display and powerful CPU, making it efficient for on-the-go general use despite having less screen real estate and no number pad on the keyboard.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Dell XPS 13 are both equipped with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and standard 60Hz refresh rate screens, which are capable for casual gaming and some 3D tasks but may fall short for demanding gaming scenarios. The larger screen size of the Inspiron 15 3511 might offer a more immersive experience for gaming and 3D applications, while the XPS 13, with its higher resolution and slightly better screen quality, provides crisper visuals albeit on a smaller display.
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.2
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is equipped with ample storage and memory, as well as a capable processor and integrated graphics, which makes it ideal for engineering and design tasks that require significant resources; however, it is larger and heavier, which impacts portability.
Content Creation
7.5
7.7
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.3
7.5
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Dell XPS 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3511 | Dell XPS 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$560 | $850 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2021 | August 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.7 lbs | 2.59 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 11.63" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 7.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i7-1250U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 230 nits | 442 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) is a solid, if unremarkable, 15-inch budget laptop. It improves on many of the issues we had with the previous 3505 model, and with the inclusion of Windows 11, the 3511 is already a step above its competition. The lack of a USB-C port, the subpar speakers, and the dim display are drawbacks to factor in, but it's still one of the better 15-inch budget laptops on the market, especially when you consider it's under $400."
Dell XPS 13
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Monica Chen | April 2023
"In the past, the XPS 13 was a hands-down contender for the best laptop on the market. But the Apple-silicon MacBook has since barrelled onto the scene, and it wipes the floor with most of the ultraportable Windows laptops that cross my desk on a daily basis. This XPS is no exception. Compared to the M2 MacBook Air, battery life is worse."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Dell XPS 13
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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